Nija, our beloved colleague at Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), is known for her boundless energy and positive spirit. On December 8, 2025, while she was at work decorating the VVTA hallways for the holidays and participating in our Christmas Stuff the Bus Toy Drive, she received the devastating news that her house was on fire. The tragedy that unfolded was unimaginable: Nija lost her father, age 68, in the fire, her mother was critically injured and airlifted to the hospital, and one of her dogs passed away while the other was miraculously saved.

The impact of this event has been overwhelming for Nija, Chris her husband and her family. The fire left nothing salvageable, her home is a total loss and will require a complete tear down. As investigations continue, there are still many unanswered questions, especially given her mother's medical condition. Through it all, Nija has shown incredible strength, but the pain of losing her father, seeing her mother in critical condition, and losing her pet is immeasurable.

As a VVTA family, we immediately came together to support Nija, but the scale of this loss is far beyond what we can manage alone. The funds raised will go toward medical bills for her mother, funeral expenses for her father, temporary housing, clothing, furniture, household equipment, and the daunting task of rebuilding her home. We are reaching out to the community and anyone who can help, because no one should have to face such a tragedy alone. Any amount, big or small, will make a difference.

Please join us in supporting Nija and Chris as they work to rebuild their lives. Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and solidarity during this difficult time for one of our own. For more information, you can read about the incident here: https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/local/2025/12/10/victim-killed-in-victorville-house-fire-identified-as-68-year-old-man/87709614007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z117970p001650c001650d00----v117970b0079xxd117965&gca-ft=152&gca-ds=sophi